Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2024-017Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Agenda Bill Report File Number: AB2024-090 File ID: AB2024-090 Version: 1 Status: Substitute Approved File Created: 01/12/2024 Entered by: CHalka@co.whatcom.wa.us Department: Council Office File Type: Resolution Assigned to: Council Committee of the Whole Final Action: 04/09/2024 Agenda Date: 04/09/2024 Enactment #: RES 2024-017 Related Files: Primary Contact Email: chalka@co.whatcom.wa.us TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM: Resolution identifying Whatcom County approaches to the fentanyl emergency SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: Resolution identifying Whatcom County approaches to the fentanyl emergency HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To: 02/06/2024 Council Committee of the Whole FORWARDED TO COUNCIL WITH RECOMMENDED MOTION(S) Aye: 6 Buchanan, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler Nay: 1 Byrd 02/06/2024 Council DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED 03/26/2024 Council as the Health Board REFERRED TO Council Committee of the Whole COMMITTEE Aye: 6 Buchanan, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler Nay: 0 Absent: 1 Byrd 04/09/2024 Council Committee of the Whole RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL WITH PROPOSED AMENDMENT(S) Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 411012024 Agenda Bill Report Continued (AB2024-090) Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler Nay: 0 04/09/2024 Council SUBSTITUTE APPROVED Aye: 7 Buchanan, Byrd, Donovan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Scanlon, and Stremler Nay: 0 Attachments: Proposed Resolution, Revised Resolution for 4.9.2024 as Amended in Committee, Revised Resolution for 4.9.2024, Revised Resolution for 3.26.2024 Health Board - staff input, Alternate Resolution for 3.26.2024 Health Board, Letter - Riveters Collective Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 411012024 PROPOSED BY: _BUCHANAN, ELENBAAS INTRODUCTION DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2024 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-017 RECOGNIZING THE FENTANYL CRISIS AS AN EMERGENCY IN WHATCOM COUNTY AND IDENTIFYING APPROACHES TO THE EMERGENCY WHEREAS, according to WhatcomOverdosePrevention.org, overdose deaths in Whatcom County in 2023 (132) exceeded deaths in the prior year and have markedly increased every year since 2018; and WHEREAS, the United States is facing the worst drug crisis in its history, and the resulting tragedies are decimating families and contributing to extraordinary levels of despair in our communities; and WHEREAS, there exists a substantial likelihood of risk to persons and property unless further efforts are taken to reduce the threat from fentanyl; and WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Drug Enforcement (DEA) identifies fentanyl as a potent synthetic opioid drug approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin; and WHEREAS, Seven out of ten DEA tested pills with fentanyl are potentially deadly making it likely that 'one pill can kill,' and in 2023, the DEA seized over 360 million deadly doses of fentanyl; and WHEREAS, our community's approach to fentanyl use and fentanyl-related crimes must be different than our approach to other illegal drug use in our community; and WHEREAS, the use of fentanyl continues spreading throughout our community, and new and immediate avenues to enhance capabilities, coordination, and collaboration across local, state, tribal, and federal agencies are needed to promote public health and safety; and WHERAS, involuntarily displacement of people experiencing homelessness is estimated to worsen overdose and hospitalizations, decrease initiations of medications for opioid use disorder, and contribute to deaths among people experiencing homelessness; and WHEREAS, the housing crisis in Whatcom County limits access and availability to safe, secure, supportive, and affordable housing which is essential for stability, recovery, sobriety, and preventing drug use and overdose; and WHEREAS, in June 2023, healthcare workers, tribal leaders, educators, businesses, community members and law enforcement gathered for a 2-day workshop, All Hands Whatcom: Opioid Summit, as a call to listening, healing, and action for the Whatcom community in response to the devastating consequences of fentanyl, meth, and opioids; and WHEREAS, in June 2023, a coalition of government agencies, community -based organizations, healthcare providers, and others from across Whatcom County formed a Multi - Agency Coordination (MAC) Group in response to the local opioid and overdose crisis; and WHEREAS, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a multiagency coordination system (MAC) is used for extraordinarily large, complex incidents occurring in the city or county involving numerous agencies and/or jurisdictions; and WHEREAS, the mission of the MAC Group is to coordinate the ongoing community -wide response efforts to the opioid crisis, identify and prioritize additional short-term objectives and strategies to reduce drug -related deaths, and mitigate the impacts on property and public safety in Whatcom County; and WHEREAS, the Whatcom County MAC group aligns with the Washington State Opioid and Overdose Response (SOOR) plan, which includes five priority goals 1. Prevent opioid misuse, 2. Identify and treat substance use disorder, 3. Ensure and improve the health and wellness of individuals that use drugs, 4. Use data to detect opioid misuse/abuse, monitor illness, injury and death, and evaluate interventions, 5. Support individuals in recovery; and WHEREAS, on September 22, 2023, the Lummi Indian Business Council approved Resolution 2023-145, declaring a state of emergency in response to the fentanyl crisis; and WHEREAS, Resolution 2023-145 provides the Lummi Indian Business Council with new and immediate avenues to enhance capabilities, coordination, and collaboration across tribal, local, state, and federal agencies and bring together state agencies, local law enforcement, and internal and external partners to pursue and achieve solutions that promote public health and safety on the Lummi Reservation; and WHEREAS, on October 24, 2023, the Whatcom County Council approved Resolution 2023- 041 supporting the Lummi Indian Business Council's (LIBC) state of emergency declaration in response to the fentanyl crisis; and WHEREAS, on December 12, 2023, Whatcom County Councilmembers Buchanan and Elenbaas sent a letter requesting that President Biden declare a national emergency on the opioid epidemic and open additional resources and authorities to address the crisis; and WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council understands coordination between all agencies in our county as well as state and federal supports is needed to fight the fentanyl crisis; and WHEREAS, declarations of emergency at the federal, state, and county levels can open up additional resources, funding, and assistance to address the fentanyl emergency; and WHEREAS, Chapter 36.27 RCW establishes the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney as the independent legal advisor of the legislative authority, prosecutor of all criminal and civil actions, including felony charges, among other duties; and WHEREAS, Chapter 9.94A RCW establishes accountable standard ranges for sentencing in the criminal justice system, and the Prosecuting Attorney makes sentencing recommendations; and WHEREAS, on July 11, 2023, Whatcom County Council adopted the Whatcom County Justice Project Implementation Plan (Ord. 2023-039), which identifies priority projects vetted by the community and categorized in five key strategy areas: I. Ensure Oversight, Accountability, and Transparency II. Increase Access to Behavioral Health Services III. Build Facilities Needed to Promote Public Health, Safety, and Justice IV. Expand the Capacity of Programs to Reduce Incarceration/Re-incarceration V. Make Systems Changes with Local, Regional, State, and Federal Partners; and WHEREAS, Whatcom County Council Resolution 2024-002 respectfully requests that the Governor of the State of Washington declare a statewide emergency to address the fentanyl crisis; and WHEREAS, Whatcom County Council Resolution 2024-003 respectfully requests that the President of the United States declare a national emergency to address the fentanyl crisis; and WHEREAS, community leaders, agency staff, and other stakeholders convened in early 2024 to informally discuss near term solutions to address the fentanyl crisis in our community; and WHEREAS, Bellingham Mayor Kimberley Lund issued Executive Order 2024-01 on February 20, 2024 to address the fentanyl crisis in Downtown Bellingham; and WHEREAS, this resolution details near term approaches, which are not intended to replace the long-term approaches detailed in more comprehensive county policy documents. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council acknowledges there is a countywide fentanyl crisis impacting people, businesses, and properties in our communities; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council recommends the following near -term approaches to address the fentanyl crisis: Government Coordination: 1. Advocate for the declaration of emergencies at state and federal levels, thereby opening up additional resources to address the crisis. 2. Unite national efforts by encouraging other local jurisdictions to approve a resolution requesting an emergency be declared at the state and federal levels. 3. Encourage Executive Sidhu to release an Executive Order with action plan that details specific action items and funding options to intensify efforts, in alignment with Opioid Task Force and MAC group recommendations. 4. Develop a budget and plan to address staffing shortages, positions needed in order to implement an Executive Order with action plan, and action steps requiring funding. 5. Using whatcomoverdoseprevention.org website and Council Committee of the Whole, provide regular updates to the public on progress of action steps, outcomes of efforts, and funds expended on initiatives. Accountability and Data Collection: 6. Advocate for legislative changes that strengthen laws regarding children's exposure to fentanyl, Ricky's law, and other related measures. 7. Enhance legal methods to address fentanyl-related crimes, distinguish fentanyl related crimes from other drug crimes, and offer treatment and recovery options in lieu of lengthy sentences when appropriate. 8. Request that Sheriff and local police to track data on utilization of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in jail and what arrests do not end in jail time because of booking restrictions. 9. Make non -fatal overdoses reportable; interrupt overdose cycle and connect individuals to treatment and services; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council recommends Whatcom County Elected officials such as the Executive, Prosecutor, and Sheriff, consider items in Exhibit A for future action; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council respectfully requests that the Executive, Sheriff, local municipalities, and other community partners consider their roles and take action to move forward near -term approaches to address the fentanyl crisis. APPROVED this 9th day of April 2024. ATTEST: 0C. a �� �e Danaa Wn vis,¢¢, ' of the Council APPROy, D AS. . Civil Deputy Prosecutor WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL V COUNT , WASHINGTON nan, Council Chair EXHIBIT A During stakeholder meetings to refine and develop the Council's resolution, members heard the following suggestions, ideas, and requests for action. Council requests that the Executive consider these exhibit items for potential inclusion in an Executive Order with action plan. 1. Fund and employ narcotics -detection dogs to keep drugs out of the jail. 2. Expand the ability to use test strips beyond Health and Community Services to law enforcement and first responders. 3. Provide additional training on common and emerging illicit drugs to police for improved response and identification of fentanyl and other drugs. 4. Identify potential modifications to booking restrictions in the jail and develop operational plans to address inmate increases. 5. Encourage using strict legal measures to address major crimes and offenses related to fentanyl. 6. Provide more opportunities for youth diversion, especially for people ages 18-25 years old. 7. Evaluate alternative court programs for higher utilization and capacity. 8. Identify options and funding sources to provide more lower cost housing and creative housing solutions. 9. Fund and launch a multi -jurisdictional, multi -language public education program, including youth public education. 10. Consider the benefits and potential local applications of the Icelandic Model, a community -based approach to substance use that decreases the likelihood of adolescent substance use by strengthening the supportive role of parents and schools and the network of opportunities around them. 11. Provide training for healthcare providers and first responders on the benefits of and how to administer Medication -assisted treatment. 12.Increase funding for treatment programs to increase availability of detox beds, provide voluntary treatment while waiting for sentencing, provide access to treatment in lieu of sentencing. 13. Provide additional resources for recovery court, including a secure facility other than the jail. 14. Ensure services are available for juveniles, not just adults. 15. Ensure medically assisted treatment (MAT) offerings inside the jail match community - based options. 16. Provide support and training for first responders and behavioral health staff dealing with trauma and burnout related to overdose responses. 17.Create and implement an overdose response team. 18. Support efforts by Lummi Nation to build a Secure Withdrawal Management and Stabilization (SWMS) facility. 19.Analyze options for expanding the Alternative Response Team, including providing 24- hour responses. 20. Provide programs in the jail (e.g., Narcotic Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, GED, counseling). 21.Create a publicly accessible monitoring and evaluation system to track goals, outcomes, and data regarding Whatcom County's response to the fentanyl emergency. 22. Expand the community paramedics program. 23.Identify options to expand supportive housing programs and re-entry housing for people seeking substance use disorder treatment who have a history of incarceration. 24. Explore partnerships with neighboring SWISS counties, Whatcom County cities, Lummi Nation, Nooksack Tribe, North Sound ACH, state, and federal agencies to fund a coordinated response to the fentanyl emergency. 25. Study new local sources of revenue to fund Whatcom County's response to the fentanyl emergency. 26. Explore additional substance use disorder treatment options for pre- and postpartum patients. 27. Continue to work with the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force to identify policy options to reduce and prevent incarceration.